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14 Jul 2012

World Population Day: Call for Concerted Action to Stabilise Country’s Population

As part of observation of World Population Day, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organised a Walkathon and a National Conference for Population Action at Vigyan Bhawan today.

Over 2000 students from various schools congregated at India Gate in the morning and walked to endorse their support for the cause of population stabilisation. The Walkathon was an effort to build momentum and raise awareness around issues like low female literacy, early age at marriage and early child bearing among a host of other challenges to be dealt with to address the issue of population stabilisation. Carrying placards with slogans supporting the cause of population stabilisation, the children eagerly joined in to collectively advocate for the cause. The Walkathon was flagged off by Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission and Shri Naveen Jindal, MP.

The National Conference for Population Action: Towards a Better Tomorrow was organised at Vigyan Bhawan. The Conference was inaugurated by Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member Planning Commission. Representatives from varied sectors participated in the Conference. During her address, Dr. Hameed stressed the need to build consensus around population stabilisation to meet the development goals of the country.

The Conference aimed to reposition family planning, especially in high priority states, increase participation from politicians and other ministries, increase visibility around population stabilisation and also generate more awareness on family planning.

It included policy makers and senior government executives from various ministries, donors, media and organisations working in the area of making family planning choices more available and accessible.

In its various sessions, the National Conference discussed issues related to global priorities and commitment to family planning, Government policies for family welfare, inter-relationship between population and sustainable growth, improved and informed choices in family planning and the role of public-private partnership in population stabilisation.